United Colours of Design • Turquoise Edition • April 2023

For those that may not be familiar with numerology or colour psychology I’m going to invite you to play with me. Let’spretend, just for the time it takes you to read this article, that you believe that your birth date is a key that unlocks a secretcode. And let’s also pretend that the code we’re talking about is shown to you in numbers and colours. And one morepretend – just for sh*ts and giggles – pretend thatyourcolours and numbers hold extremely valuable information aboutyour challenges and gifts while fumbling around on this big marble called earth. Are we good? Ready to play?

This article and my birth date are both brought to you by the number 7 and the colour turquoise. (I promise that’s the onlySesame Street reference for today!) I have been waiting two and a half years, 10 previous editions and hundreds ofdesigned pages to get to this colour! I can’t believe it’s finally here! Turquoise.

As a Turquoise life-path and CEO myself, I realize now, that it’s not just about being creative and having endless ideas;(although those are pretty sweet gifts to have) it’s about having the courage to take risks and venture into unchartedterritories. It’s about having the tenacity to pursue a vision despite naysayers and the odds being stacked against you. It’sabout having the ability to think outside the box and find solutions to the craziest problems.

But, it’s not always easy being a Turquoise CEO. We can get carried away by our ideas and lose track of time, resulting inburnout and neglecting other aspects of our lives. We can be too trusting and naive, leading to disappointment andbetrayal. We can be too idealistic and ignore practical realities, resulting in financial loss and missed opportunities.

To avoid these pitfalls, Turquoise CEO’s must have a strong support system, including a reliable team and a trustedadvisor. We need people who can keep us grounded and focused on the big picture while taking care of the details. Weneed someone who can challenge our assumptions and offer constructive feedback. We need someone who can help usmanage our time and resources effectively.

For me, one of those people is my mentor, Moira. She’s been with me for most of my entrepreneurial journey and hasbeen an invaluable source of guidance and encouragement. She’s not afraid to call me out when I’m getting ahead ofmyself or remind me to take a break when I’m pushing myself too hard. She’s helped me recognize my strengths andencourages me to go beyond. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. I guess it takes one to know one because Moirais also a turquoise entrepreneur.

Another crucial aspect of being a Turquoise CEO is staying true to our values and purpose. It’s easy to get caught up inthe pursuit of success and forget why we started in the first place. As a 7/Turquoise CEO, my purpose is to make apositive impact on the world, to use my creativity and vision to solve problems and make a difference. I want to leave alegacy that inspires soulpreneurs to follow their dreams and the purpose of their soul.

To achieve this, I must stay true to my values, which include integrity, honesty, and compassion. I must be mindful of theimpact my actions have on others and make decisions that align with my vision and soul. I must be willing to take risks butalso accept responsibility for the consequences of those risks. It’s a delicate balance, but one that I’m committed tomaintaining.

Being a Turquoise CEO means a life filled with opportunities where courage, tenacity, and resilience are the flavours ofthe day. The turquoise that runs through my veins keeps me in a constant search for that ‘in the flow’ feeling that I find soincredibly rewarding. The sense of fulfillment that comes from pursuing this vision of mine and making a positive impacton the world is unparalleled.

If you discover that you are a Turquoise soulpreneur, my advice is to embrace your creativity, take risks, and stay true toyour purpose and values. Surround yourself with a strong support system, including a mentor, team, and trusted advisors.And, most importantly, don’t forget to take care of yourself. Burnout and neglecting other aspects of your life are not worththe price of success.

Thank you for playing with me today, if I’ve inspired you, if you’re curious to see what colour CEO you are … tag! You’re it,and you know where to find me!

In my early childhood years, I can best describe myself as a young vibrant kid. Colour has always played a huge part in my life – everywhere I looked I would always see such amazing colours. They would swirl around people, objects, even buildings, and all the bright coloured clothes I loved to wear.

What I know now, is that I was seeing the world through a slightly different lens than others.

At a young age, I realized that I was the only one who could see the swirling colors. When I tried to share my experience with my friends, they either laughed at me or called me weird. As a result, I decided to stop talking about it. This was particularly challenging for me since I was young and didn’t fully comprehend what was happening.

Once I graduated from high school, I began working different jobs and found myself no longer surrounded by the same group of friends. It was during this time that I became acutely aware of how I didn’t quite belong anywhere.

After work, I often found myself wondering what was wrong with me. I felt like the fun-loving, vibrant, and outgoing child inside me was slowly fading away. As I struggled to fit in and make connections with others, I noticed that the more I tried, the more I felt like an outsider. Eventually, I came to the realization that I needed to stop forcing myself to fit in and let go of my love for bright colors. My closet had become a sea of dull greys and blacks, with only a small splash of brown.

Despite establishing a career in Human Resources, I felt weighed down by a dark cloud. Difficult times loomed over me as changes and upset employees added to the already tumultuous legal battle I was involved in. This experience was draining me completely.

I had a sense that everything was spiraling out of control and I longed for a shift, any sort of alteration to the status quo. However, I have since learned to exercise caution in my desires. If you don’t clearly communicate your intentions to the universe, the results may not be what you expected.

The events that followed were completely unexpected. I vividly recall browsing in a store one moment, only to awaken later in a hospital bed, disoriented and confused. It wasn’t until my doctor informed me that I had suffered a severe head  injury, which he referred to as a near-death experience, that I began to piece together what had transpired. Remarkably, even to this day, I remain unable to recollect anything that occurred between the time of my injury and the moment I regained consciousness in the hospital.

After my incident, I was consumed by a persistent sense of panic and anxiety. It grew so intense that I became increasingly reluctant to leave my home and found it difficult to interact with anyone beyond my immediate family. Even the simplest tasks at work became more and more challenging to accomplish. I struggled to comprehend what was happening to me, and despite undergoing numerous tests, my doctors were unable to identify any physical cause for my condition.

Another difficult realization I had was that my job was no longer in alignment with my values. Something had shifted inside me, and I began to feel a growing sense of disagreement with many of the company’s policies and procedures. The toll on my health and well-being was becoming increasingly evident. I observed that whenever I needed to address my colleagues or discuss important matters around a boardroom table, I would experience a physical reaction where my voice would fail me. It felt as though my throat was closing up, and I was unable to articulate my thoughts.

Little did I know, that one moment would be the catalyst for a complete upheaval of my entire life. The final straw hadfinally been reached and everything came crashing down. My husband and I had made the most difficult decision to sellour house, and I had made the even more daunting choice to quit my job. But that wasn’t even the biggest shock – wewere going to move 3000km away, to a place where we knew absolutely no one. What would happen next was anyone’s guess, but I was ready to take the leap and find out.

At first, everything remained the same, and it seemed as though there was no hope for improvement. But as luck wouldhave it, that didn’t last long. One day, while watching TV, I came across a woman describing her experiences with panicand anxiety – she too was unable to leave her house. Hearing someone else speak so candidly about their struggles wasa welcome change. However, things took a surprising turn when she revealed that she was a psychic medium. The statement left me confused and intrigued – how could someone who claimed to communicate with the dead offer insightinto my current situation?

And so, it was at this point that my spiritual journey truly began. As I searched for the woman online, I couldn’t help but notice the striking turquoise branding on her website, which included a butterfly as one of her logos. The colors seemed to jump off the screen, captivating my attention like never before. Before long, she became my first mentor, guiding me along the path of daily rituals and practices that would ultimately teach me the value of spiritual self-care. Through herteachings, I gained invaluable insights into myself and the world around me.

Shortly after, a vivid memory returned to me – I was sitting in the emergency room, and my doctor remarked that I musthave had an incredible team of angels watching over me, given that I was lucky to have survived. This moment sparkedan incredible journey of angelic exploration for me. I was beyond thrilled to learn that each of the Archangels had theirown unique aura color, and dove headfirst into mastering the intricacies of these divine beings.However, I found myself facing another dilemma – fear of judgment and rejection from others. I was too afraid to reveal mynewfound passion, often being vague about my interests and pretending to work in a more socially acceptable field like yoga.

However, I found myself facing another dilemma – fear of judgment and rejection from others. I was too afraid to reveal my new found passion, often being vague about my interests and pretending to work in a more socially acceptable field likeyoga.

After becoming a Reiki Master, I realized that I needed to focus on healing and opening my throat chakra. I had anintuitive feeling that working with the energy of the color turquoise could help me achieve this goal. To my surprise,Archangel Raguel appeared to me in a beautiful shade of turquoise and has been a valuable guide in my journey towardshealing my throat chakra. Since invoking his help, I have made tremendous progress in this area.

In 2022, my faith was put to the test. I received a call from VoiceAmerica, an internet-based radio station. They had discovered my website and were impressed with my story. They asked if I would be interested in hosting a live radio show.

I initially thought of rejecting the offer, but I suddenly felt a strong push from my angels. It was as if my throat chakra had been activated with the energy of the color turquoise, urging me to speak my truth.

Saying “Yes!!” has been my greatest accomplishment so far. Every week, I receive heartfelt emails from people across the globe sharing how our show has impacted their lives positively or assisted them. What’s even better is that I have found my tribe, people who relate to my experiences and have welcomed me into their lives.

Life can be challenging and full of surprises, but it is up to us to take control of our situations and make the best of them. As we move through life, we encounter obstacles that may appear insurmountable, but with resilience and determination, we can overcome them. Through the struggles, we learn and grow, and we become better versions of ourselves. In the end, it was important for me to follow my own turquoise path and not let othersdictate my choices. By embracing my uniqueness and allowing myself to be guided by my intuition, I created a life that is fulfilling and authentic to me. Remember, life is a journey, and it is up to you to make the most of it.

Pampers is a brand owned by the American company called Proctor and Gamble, who have multiple, personal careproduct lines ranging from shaving to cleaning to diapering.

The Pampers brand is an example of what we encourage SOULpreneurs to do every day – discover the story hidden inthe numerology and colours behind the scenes before you begin creating your brand story. Pampers did this intuitively.It’s rare but when this happens it makes our hearts sing.

When a company is so in tune with their brand’s energetic voice,when the powers-that-be listen to the brand’s life force and choose colours from a place of knowing – you can see themagic that happens. You can see how the frequencies line up and an enormous brand is born to disrupt the world.

This logo not only holds all the colours of its numerology value in its design, the colours are also an exact mirror image ofits face to the world!

The colours are so perfect that we had to do a deeper dive into the history of this logo. Who just ‘knew’ that thecolours had to be yellow and turquoise? Were they psychic? Or does the gold in the number 10 (see‘consonants’ column in the above chart) indicate deep wisdom at work?

Before Pampers – there was a Pampering Grandpa!

Years before Pampers there was a single frustrated chemical engineer changing his grandchildren’s nappies (aka‘diapers’, for our North American readers). Victor Mills was working for Proctor and Gamble as a researcher and hewas a grandfather that disliked changing cloth nappies. He tested the invention on his own grandchildren. In 1961pampers was introduced to the market. The name was suggested by the Creative Director Alfred Goldman ofBenton & Bowles, an advertising agency. Alfred, you did good! However it took several years for the logo colours tomatch so perfectly the name’s vibration he came up with. The first logo did not start as the ideal colours of turquoiseand yellow, in fact it was red when it launched in 1961 alongside a suggestive photo of a calm sleeping baby. Asleeping baby does not match the energy of red.

CONSONANTS – New beginnings

In the Colour Mirrors bottle 28 named ‘New Beginnings’, we can see the perfect combination of yellow (sunshineand joy) balancing on the turquoise (waters). Together these colours indicate a new start, and what could be newerthan a baby. The benefits and intention of the product also shines through these colours – the (turquoise) ‘water’ will be captured and held in the diaper, leaving baby dry and ultimately – (yellow) happy.

Looking at the 10 and 1 numbers and colours, it all makes such perfect sense. Gold is wealth and success, the goldwisdom of a grandfather. If you were a mother on a budget, the 10 bottle – called the Wheel of Fortune – indicated the ‘highcost and value’ of disposable nappies. Certainly in some households, the disposable nappy option was for when you lefthome for the afternoon or for special occasions, certainly not for everyday use.

The yellow in the number 1 bottle is the colour of – hmm how do we say this politely – well, yellow is the colour of ababy’s pee pee’s and yellow is also the colour of the scientist, the researcher who uses intellect to invent things!How lovely that the brand holds the energy of the person who helped to create it and its ultimate purpose!

VOWELS – Made for Mothers!

The vowels of the name come to number 6 and the colour pink – the colour of mothers, nurturing and love. So these branded nappies are suited for blue boys and now also for pink girls, the pink here brings in the balance. Perhaps this is the energy that inspired the researchers to create gender specific diapers. This colour also says that the product wasconceived and created with good loving intentions. In those days the focus was on keeping mom and baby (andgrandfathers!) happy, and the impact of products on the environment would only become a point of concern in later years. That too would have been inevitable as there is olive green in the 10 bottle and the ‘green’ environment would have to become part of its story at some stage.

TOTAL NUMEROLOGY – Ahead of its time

Whenever turquoise is used in a logo design, it says that the product or message that it is attached to may be ahead of its time. Turquoise is futuristic, it is the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates of the world. People who think outside the box, or indeed if they were to make a box you would be happy to spend the rest of your life in it, it is so appealing. 34 carries the message that the difficult times are over – if you were a mother before the invention of the disposable nappy, you will relate to this ‘difficult time’.

The 7 energy is Neptune, the God of the seas, and so apt for this product – it literally does what it says on the box – captures water. This is one for the history books of analyzing brand names and colours through numerology and revealingthe ‘why and how’ behind a brand’s success.

In the upcoming blue edition, we take a deep dive into one of the biggest tech giants of our time: Facebook. From its humble beginnings to its current global domination, we uncover the secrets hidden in the numerology and colours behind its brand. Prepare to be fascinated by the many rebirths and disruptions that have shaped Facebook’s remarkable journey.

If I could have just one colour on my palette, I would choose turquoise. That lovely shade between green and blue.The transition from warm to cool colours of the rainbow. I see it as a colour of infinite possibilities. And why not?Turquoise is the colour of the Throat Chakra, the energy centre that is associated with expression, communication,creativity and a bridge between the material and spiritual planes.

Let me take you behind the scenes in an artist’s mind and studio, where the series of fluid art paintings, “TranquilDepths” was created. It is a journey of connection, expression and expansion. And it engages the turquoise energyin every stage.

Connection

Any creation begins with the seed of inspiration. We are constantly downloading messages from a higher consciousness. These messages have the potential to inspire and guide us as we strive to fulfill our potential. Our five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste are the receptors of this inspiration. A particular colour, a note of music, the waft of fragrance, the lingering taste of food or a sensitive touch, we are constantly experiencing these sensations. All a creative person does is take that experience and create something unique using imagination and skill.

My inspiration for these paintings was the fluid energy of water bodies seen in nature. Rivers, lakes or oceans, there is something in water that can transform energy either gently or dynamically. Water has always held a fascination for me, and this particular series explores the possibilities not only on the shimmering surface of water but also in the tranquil depths.

Expression

The next step is expression of that spark of inspiration. The passion of creatives brings so much beauty and joy to our lives in the form of art, music, performances, culinary experiences and so much more. As Picasso said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Immersing ourselves in these inspired creations is a great way of sharing the joy and relieving stress. Whenever we are attracted to a particular creative expression or experience, we connect with the inspiration of the creator. This is true appreciation.

The process of fluid art or pour painting was the perfect way I could express the dynamic movement of water, letting the imagination flow unrestricted. The glow of sunlight is captured by using crystals and glitter, An exciting process, intuitive and free flowing.

Expansion

The ultimate power of any creation is expanding our awareness and opening up possibilities never seen before. Our senses are heightened when we take in an experience and elevate it to the next level. Every person that is touched by that experience becomes part of the creation as each of us interprets it in an unique way. So in a way the seed of inspiration blossoms into flower of expansion only when given expression.

I always think that the life of a painting begins after the artist puts down the brushes. A channel of communication is opened up through the lines, shapes, spaces and colour. Listen closely to the conversations between the turquoise, gold and deep blue. What are secrets being revealed in the depths of wisdom and faith, and what is being promised by the dancing rays of golden hope? A new beginning supported by layers of experience.

Turquoise holds the power of authentic expression and creativity inspired by the divine. A blessing and guidance forany artist, so no wonder it always finds its way on my canvases!

Speaking from the heart, expressing one’s truth, takes courage.To hear, actually hear, another who is expressing from this place takes attention, intention and in some cases translation.

The attention and intention are up to you to apply; the translation, I can help with, because each of the zodiac signs has their own way of speaking their heart and once you understand their method, it’s much easier to receive what they are communicating.

Below I list some of the strategies of the various zodiac signs. I refer to them as “types” because they’re not just applicable to Sun signs, but Moon and Rising signs as well.If you only know the Sun sign read that; if you know the other two, read all three.

Aries-types probably don’t need translation. Typically, these individuals are very direct.If they don’t like something, they will say. If they need space, they’ll let you know. If they don’t want to do an activity, they’ve already left. This is a forward moving, refreshingly honest sign.Don’t ask them if the dress makes you look fat.If you felt great in it, you wouldn’t ask.

Taurus-types respect boundaries, so they may leave you alone to sort out your feelings.This is a form of communication, expressing love.They are giving you space, trusting in your process. They don’t like being prodded, and assume you don’t either. This group uses their body to express. If they are especially slow in mobilizing to do something, they don’t want to do it.If they go silent when arguing, they are very upset.

Gemini-types are linguistic in nature and their feelings benefit from being labelled. Vocalizing, “I am so mad!” helps them process that emotion.Geminis are precise with language, so take their meaning as stated. If they say, I wouldn’t like that, they do not mean, maybe I wouldn’t like that. They are crisp and deliberate. They remember (and will remind you of) exactly what they said.

Cancer-types are private, so when they disclose, “I’m feeling anxious,” they are telling you that piece of information but they are also saying, “You are special to me; I trust you enough to let you into my inner world. I know that you will not broadcast my secrets.” This is a high honour and should be heard for what it is: a declaration of a deep bond.

Leo-types share their heart by sharing who they are with you.Their presence is the message.When they show you their new haircut, or the canvas they painted, they are sharing a piece of themselves. They aren’t just shining; they are shining for you. Leos will feel received if they have managed to delight you. Your attention, a smile and some encouragement will accomplish this.

Virgo-types are practical and attentive to detail. When they ask, “Are you sure you have the tickets?” they are not doubting your competency.They are communicating, “I want your night to go smoothly—I care.”When a Virgo confesses their worry, this means that they feel mentally unprepared for what’s ahead. Saying, “Don’t worry, it’s fine,” dismisses their truth. Helping them develop a plan, makes them feel supported.

Libra-types are notoriously indecisive, preferring to join, rather than lead. As such, if a Libra names a restaurant, or a vacation spot, it means they really want to go there. If you offer a competing activity, they will acquiesce, but you haven’t heard their truth. By offering a choice, they just trusted you with aprocess that is fragile for them. This trust is a major communication and it deserves a safe space to land. Go to their restaurant. I’m talking to you, Aries.

Scorpio-types speak in code.When they say, “Hey I was thinking we should go see that movie” what they mean is, “I’ve already bought us tickets to that movie.” Scorpios tend to soft sell their plans and downplay their intensity. If a Scorpio tells you they are a tad bothered, they are tremendously bothered. If they tell you they had some trouble in their childhood, it was likely deeplytraumatic. If you treat their small disclosures as more serious than they seem, Scorpio-types will feel seen.

Sagittarian-types often blurt out their uncensored thoughts and feeling, so no translation needed there. But, being a fire sign, Sagittarian-types love the uplift of contemplating possibilities. When they share their excitement, they aresharing a process they find joyful. The best way to receive this heartfelt offeringis by joining them for a moment in their vision. If you hit them with reality, (logic, costs, viability) it immediately deflates them and they wonder why they bothered at all.

Capricorn-types are practical and goal-oriented.When these individuals talk about work and their ambitions, it is easy to think they are not disclosing something personal, but nothing is more personal to a Capricorn than theirgoals. As a practical sign, the way they show their love is by sharing their expertise and leveraging their influence for you. If they introduce you to an opportunity, what they are expressing is, “I believe in you and I’m proud to attach my name to yours.

Aquarian-types revel in their ability to present new perspectives. When they offer a contrary opinion to yours, their message is not “you are wrong” it is, “You are a strong person with a clear position, let’s test it.” Aquarians protect underdogs. If they are arguing with you, they see you as highly capable and competent.It’s a compliment.

Pisces-types are very empathetic and guilt easily. This makes it hard for them to say no.If they say, “I’ll see if I can make it to the party,” it does not mean they are strategizing how to get there. It means “I don’t want to go,” and further, by not saying yes, they believe that they’ve told you as much. For a Pisces, if it’s not a resounding yes, take it as a no.

I’m back, and what a colour to shoosh back in with than glorious turquoise!

Turquoise is an amazing stone/gem. It is a stone that helps to calm your mind while you begin your mindful practice and/or meditation.

We hear so much about being mindful. Mind this, mind that, breathe, jeepers, makes your head spin, so let’s begin at the start, fresh, like we know nothing. Let’s use the glorious vibration of turquoise to help you understand and bring you into that state of being mindful.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is about keeping an awareness of our feelings, our thoughts and our surroundings each and every moment. It is also being aware of what is happening in and with our bodies and, of course, the environment around us.

It is a mental state, and focusing on your awareness in this exact moment will help you to acknowledge your thoughts and feeling.

What is the purpose of mindfulness?

To deliberately focus your attention on what is going on within and around you. Accepting it without placing any judgment can and will aid in reducing stress.

What is the big deal?

Many years ago, probably before some of you were even in this dimension, I began to realize that every time I moved away from “paying attention” to what was happening around me, crap began to happen, AND my health started to go downhill as well. I realized then, that each time I did not stay “in the moment” and was not “aware” of my body, mind and surroundings, things started to go sideways.

I became stressed about silly stuff. I couldn’t cope, even with the smallest of things, and then, the more serious side, I would begin down a path of depression and anxiety. After many years I realized that by not “listening” to ME, MY body and staying aware of what was going on around me, hell broke out with my health. Since then, I pay very, VERY close attention to it all, and I have been slowly healing myself.

What can it do for me?

Practicing, yes practicing, mindfulness can help you in many ways. It can help you cope and manage your life when you have increased stress. Many people who have serious illnesses use mindfulness to help them navigate through whatever it is they are struggling with. It’s like that warm cuddly blanket that lifts your spirits and relaxes you.

By being mindful it will improve your self-esteem and increase your ability to relax. I was not a total believer until I had my bout with cancer; it became my blanket of relaxation and healing.

Mindfulness is a myriad of “things” that you can do, practice and implement into your daily lives to help you with character, build your confidence, and connect you to who you truly are. If you care about how you contribute to your wellness through mindfulness, it will surely help you with your creative side as well.

Now, grab a piece of turquoise and sit with it. Allow your mind to calm, connect and ground yourself to earth and let thefrustrations melt away….. breathe….

EXERCISE:

While I was searching for ways to enhance practice, I came upon this guy called Dr. Ellis Edmunds. In 2017 he wrote an article called “The 4 Components of Mindfulness (SOAP).”

Here is a quick outline of this method. It’s pretty straightforward and simple, thank goodness. Lol

Stay Separate from your thoughts. It is so easy to get caught up with what is stuck in your head.

Always Observe what is going on with you. We all love to make an image of ourselves from what is stuck in our brains.

Accept your emotions. It is what it is. If you feel frustrated, accept it, and do what you need to do to get through. Do not beat yourself up because you don’t know why. Grounding really helps with that!

Be in the Present moment. Throw the “yesterdays, tomorrows, laters” out of your head. Close your eyes and focus on your breaths, the rise and fall as you breathe in and out.

One of the things that I love about working at school is getting to know the staff and students. It’s common practice for me to greet people by name, smile, wave and say hi as I go about my day. It’s also pretty common to stop or get stopped for a chat on my way from point A to Point B.

My room at school gets lots of visitors too. Sometimes students need a walk to get a pencil sharpened, ask for a band-aid or a healthy snack, to borrow a game for free time, sign up for playground leaders jobs, or a quick visit to say “Hi! Others come because it’s a safe, welcoming place to hang out. Often students report problems they are involved in or witnessed. They find it easy to talk to me.

“Active Listening” is an essential skill and strategy I use when interacting with others. Hearing is the ability tohear sound. Your brain recognizes, processes and interprets the audio information fromsound in the environment. Active Listening is the ability to participate during a conversation and gain knowledge from the verbal information shared. It enhances learning and relationships. Active Listeners give their full attention to the other person, make reflective comments or ask clarifying questions and observe and react to the body language, cadence and tone of the speech of the other person in the conversation. They are fully engaged in the present moment and share ideas after the other person has finished. As babies we learn to coo, babble and take turns in conversations with family.

Recently, a grade 3 student was convinced there was only one way to take attendance. Her perspective is “the world is black or white, there are no shades of gray.” When she and her little brother were talking about taking attendance in class, she told him his teacher was “doing it wrong!” Then he informed his teacher. I explained that when she said “Here!“ for attendance in grades 1, 2 and 3, it was fine. It’s also okay for her brother’s teacher to use “Present!” The result was the same and it’s normal for people to do things differently. She struggled with accepting that and asked “Ms. Bain, how olddo you have to be to stop making mistakes?” My gentle but honest answer was “There is no age where we stop making mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. What’s important is not that you made a mistake but that you learned from it.

Six grade four boys were sent to me for help dealing with a hall and yard issue. During the discussion, I found out that one boy had “hired” three classmates to be his bodyguards. They took the job very seriously as they were being “paid” with Roblox money. Two more who also wanted to be bodyguards, were chased down the stairs and outside for getting too close to the person they were protecting. The bodyguards were “doing their job!” I learned all this by listening and asking questions. First we talked about safety as someone could have gotten hurt. Then I looked at the boy who had hired the bodyguards and stated “I’m Management. Fire your bodyguards!” So he pointed at each one and announced “You’re fired!”. All the boys laughed and planned a different game for next recess.

Another day I heard an upset student crying loudly so I got up from my desk and followed the sound next door. A Supply Teacher was in the room looking bewildered. I stood next to a familiar student, put my hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eye and asked “What’s the problem?” She explained that she was doing her job as the “Chef du Jour” but the classwas being silly. I looked at everyone and said “What does a good audience look like and sound like?” As several students put up their hands and answered, I could feel her calming down. When they finished, I asked, “Are you okay now?” She nodded yes so I left. The whole interaction took about five minutes. Making sure she felt heard and her classmates understood the expectations about participating appropriately quickly de-escalated the situation.

Check 5 is a method I use to prompt active listening for a group. I’ve attached a worksheet or for fun, have your child trace their hand and write the actions on their thumb and four fingers in order.

There are 5 steps to being ready to receive information:

1) Sitting down (Sit in your spot, at your desk or stand still, showing the speaker that you’re ready to listen.)

2) Hands in your lap. (You may need a small quiet squeezy ball to help focus.)

3) Mouth closed. (No talking so you can hear and the Speaker doesn’t get interrupted.)

4) Ears open. (Listen, pay attention so you understand all the important information being shared with you.)

5) Eyes on the speaker (so they know you’re paying attention. You can also see and interpret all the nonverbalinformation. This may vary as some cultures avoid direct eye contact as a form of respect.

(See the links to an article for adults explaining Active Listening by Arlin Cuncic, a YouTube video story “Harold B Wigglebottom Learns to Listen” by Howard Binkow and a Check 5 worksheet for children.)

From ‘Eyes on Me’ to ‘To Infinity and Beyond’:Engaging Classroom Cues for Active Listening

There are lots of ways to employ active listening and cue others when important information is about to be given in a group or class situation. When asked, generous teachers at Ross Drive Public School in Brampton Ontario shared their listening cues. Many thanks to Ms. A. Dickens, Ms. G. Pathania, Ms. D. Jones, Ms. A. Goraya, Ms. V. Frantellizzi and Ms. E. Wellington for their suggestions.

Teacher: “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” Students: “Spongebob Square Pants”
Teacher: “Waterfall” Students: “Shhhhhhh”
Teacher: “If you can hear me clap once… clap twice…touch your head…etc”
Teacher: “Class, class!” Students reply “Yes, yes.”
Teacher: “Show me you’re ready”
Teacher: “To Infinity …” Students “And Beyond!”
Teacher: “Eyes on me!” Students: “Eyes on you.”
Teacher: Claps simple 4-beat rhythm. Students: Repeat rhythm. The rhythm may get more complex as the teacher andstudents clap and respond.
Teacher: Counts down 5-1 or 10-1 depending on the situation

Are you a good listener?

Take this quiz and self check in a flash! Simply mark off the statements that apply to you.

• I look the person who is speaking in the eyes.
• I wait my turn to start speaking.
• I listen carefully to the person talking, instead of only thinking about what I want to say.
• Even if I don’t like what the speaker is saying, I still listen to them.
• I don’t take over the conversation and make it only about me.
• I think it’s important to listen to what the other person wants to share.
• I pay attention to what others believe, feel and need.
• I try to understand the other person’s point of view when there’s a disagreement.
• I believe listening to each other is really important

Active listening is a bridge builder that connects people

Parents, use active listening and teach it to your children. Feeling heard and understood is powerful. The person who listens and understands has a SUPER POWER!! An old saying is “People have two ears and one mouth. You should listen twice as much as you speak!” Are you hearing or are you listening???

I recently returned from a Caribbean cruise with my husband. I enjoyed watching the turquoise waters reflect off the white sandy beaches. Turquoise evokes a feeling of tranquility and inspiration. I returned home inspired and rejuvenated. I am confident the soothing Turquoise Qi (energy) was the catalyst for the new creative endeavours I am pursuing.The word Turquoise is derived from the French word for Turkish. It is believed that turquoise gems were discovered in ancient Turkey. It is said that the turquoise gem refers to a 17th Century Turkish Ambassador to France.The colour Turquoise and the actual gem are associated with many of the same qualities. The colour and the gem are associated with good luck, serenity, clarity, calm, creativity, wisdom, freedom, faith, communication, playfulness and youth. The ancient Aztecs used Turquoise as an eye treatment to reduce poisons’ effects. Egyptians wore turquoise for protection. The Greeks in the old days believed the myth that Zeus created Turquoise from sea foam. Turquoise strongly connects with the water element, symbolizing flow and movement. It is associated with goddesses of water, such as Aphrodite, Isis and Venus. Turquoise also makes us think of dolphins swimming and playing in the ocean. Water’s calming effect helps us go inwards and find comfort in times of chaos. Turquoise supports us in gaining insight into our emotions and feelings, allowing us to understand ourselves more deeply.

“Turquoise is a beautiful and versatile colour in Feng Shui that can bring balance andharmony into any space. It is a colour representing healing, peace, heartfeltcommunication and serenity.

Turquoise is an energy-balancing colour that reduces stress and anxiety. It helps topromote creativity and mental clarity, making it an effective tool for any environment inFeng Shui design.”

BEDROOM

Turquoise is a popular colour for the bedroom, bringing a sense of relaxation. It is versatile enough to be combined with other colours, such as peach and coral shades that complement Turquoise. This makes it possible to design with various styles, from modern and minimalistic to traditional and vintage. Artwork, bedding, lamp shades, drapes and rugs with pops of Turquoise will help create a unique and inviting bedroom to make you feel comfortable and relaxed.

LIVING ROOM

A living room is where we relax and entertain our family and friends. You can add Turquoise to bring a sense of calm and reduces stress. In addition, it is beneficial for heartfelt communication. In Feng Shui, the artwork we choose is significant because it subliminally affects us. Therefore, I recommend artwork or decorative items displayed in Turquoise. Scenes of a turquoise ocean never fail to exude a sense of tranquility for everyone.

OFFICE

In the office or workspace, Turquoise is very effective. It is beneficial for employees that spend long hours at work. Turquoise can stimulate creativity and productivity, especially when working at home, as it is easy to get distracted. In addition, it is a powerful tool for communication and collaboration. Connecting with our peers in a calm and serene environment is positive and reduces tension, and going with the flow makes getting along much more manageable.

Turquoise has been known as a symbol of faith for centuries. It’s spiritual and healing properties have been recognized by many cultures over time. It is often associated with protection and good luck. Turquoise is a popular choice of jewelry for spiritual item ssuch as talismans and other items of faith. Turquoise is also believed to be a powerful link between the physical world, the spiritual realm, and the divine. This connection can bring peace, understanding, and acceptance in depression and grief. Turquoise is an ancient colour and symbol that brings comfort and hope in today’s world.

Turquoise is often associated with the water element. However, in Feng Shui, the water element is also represented by all shades of blue and black. Black water is deep and mysterious. The water element has yin characteristics primarily as water is passive and receptive. However, water can also have yang qualities, such as mighty waterfalls, raging rivers and ice formations.

Feng Shui Summary of things associated with the Water Element:

• Message: abundance and prosperity
• Movement and flow
• Colour: turquoise, blue, black
• Shape: Wavy, curvy and flowing
• Materials: Aquariums, tabletop fountains, water features and metal fountains.
• Properties: running downward, holds the Chi
• Textures: open weaves, watery fabrics with flowing patterns
• Human Organs: kidneys, urinary bladder and ear canal.
• Creative Element: Metal (condensation forms on metal producing water)
• Destructive Element: Earth (earth dams water)
• Reducing Element: Wood (Wood absorbs water)
• Direction: North
• Bagua life aspiration: Lifepath, career
• Colour Mirrors: Water element, Turquoise dragon and blue and black oil bottles.

Discover the Surprising Benefits of Using the Water Elementto Overcome Loneliness and Insecurity!

Water creates change and movement, and it can do so quickly. In Feng Shui, apply the water element to overcome loneliness andinsecurity. On the flip side, too much water evokes a sense of overwhelm and being overly emotional. The water element is good for healing and when you need to release emotions stored in your body for a long time. If you feel too much water in your environment, I suggest adding wood elements like plants to bring you back into balance. (Wood absorbs water). Water is associated with prosperity and abundance because it generates life-giving properties for mother earth. This is because we are all composed of over 70% water. The colour Turquoise and the Water element create a flow of life, abundance, tranquility, communication, and faith in life and Feng Shui design.

When I think, see, or wear the colour turquoise I feel a sense of peace. I am reminded of the ocean, holidays, and relaxation. But to me, it means so much more. The colour turquoise helps us stay in the energy of gratitude, it helps us let go of external stressors so we can be in the flow, and helps us communicate from the heart. We are going to explore how we can use turquoise and hypnosis as a blended force to ease our worries. I’ll speak about how it will help to increase positive and productive communication moving from the heart to the brain by using positive emotions such as gratitude, appreciation, and love. This in turn will assist us in fully releasing ourselves to be in the flow. Inside each body, there lies a heart; the incentive to keep our body in motion. This muscle, the heart, is an organ that prompts immense interest to most, and until the early 1990’s was considered an average organ who only lies there to pump blood to the rest of our body.

Did you know that the heart has its own brain?

In 1991, Dr. Armour discovered that the heart has its own “little brain” or “intrinsic cardiac nervous system.”This “heart brain” is composed of approximately 40,000 neurons that are akin to neurons in the brain, meaning that the heart has its own nervous system1.

Okay, that’s great, but why should we care?

Why is this important to you and your business?

Now that we know the heart has a brain – we can connect to the heart to access its intelligence. The ‘heart-brain’ can actually influence problem-solving, attention, memory, energy, and stress as well as other functions. Recent studies have shown that when our ‘heart-brain’ and actual brain are in coherence we can find a new sense of clarity, increase concentration, and reduce stress and anxiety. When your heart rhythm pattern is irregular, unstable, and your heart is not in coherence with your brain, this will negatively affect the communication between your heart and your brain which can impede regular functions. Heart coherence occurs when your heart rhythm pattern is highly organized and looks like a harmonious wave.

Source: Frustration and appreciation (McCraty et al. 2009)

Entrepreneurs and leaders can use the study of the human body – their physiology – to create coherence in their own bodies to increase personal success and cognitive functions. Furthermore, it has been scientifically proven that your heart’s electromagnetic field can be detected and measured 6 – 8 feet outside of your body. So, your heart’s energy affects people around you and is able to assist you in connecting easily and effortlessly with others through your heart.

So how do we get there?

The key to heart and brain coherence is the expression of positive emotions such as gratitude, appreciation, love, and empathy.When we are in coherence between our hearts and brains we can see an increase in cognitive functions, clarity, problem-solving, and memory. How cool is that?

Scientific studies have shown that we can enter into coherence unintentionally and intentionally. The heart communicates the feelings of love, care, and gratitude to the brain which in turn assists with brain functions as mentioned above. The feeling of being in the flow feels like we are one with our heart, mind, and body.

How Hypnosis helps to let incoherence go and to allow gratitude to flow

Let it go and flow.
You know when you’re in the flow? Maybe you’re playing your favorite sport, maybe you find yourself cooking, dancing to the best song ever, or creating something beautiful. Individuals will often move into “being in the flow” just by chance.
They might even say, “I’m not sure how I get into the flow, I just do.”Use turquoise combined with hypnosis to help you let it go and flow. Looking at this colour gives a feeling of serenity and stability.
Visualizing turquoise water is a soothing sensation for most people and is often used in hypnosis to assist individuals to move into a trance state in order to create positive change.
When an individual seeks heart coherence and utilizes the heart’s brain to move their heart and actual brain into coherence, hypnosis can be used to help them.
Many people do not know how to be in gratitude, appreciation, or feel joy in the moment, their natural state has become one of stress and frustration. Through hypnosis, you can rewire and retrain your ‘heart-brain’ and your brain to be in alignment. Once you know how it feels to embody these feelings, you can realign and go into heart coherence quite quickly.

Steps you can take for heart coherence right now

1. Sit quietly in a comfortable position, with your feet placed on the floor
2. Visualize the colour turquoise.
3. Imagine gratitude, appreciation, and think of something joyful
4. Breath in deep into your abdomen for 5 seconds
5. Exhale for 5 seconds
6. Continue for 3 – 5 minutes.
   This can be done anywhere at any time!
   If you find it difficult to get into this state, a hypnosis session might be right for you to help your heart, mind and body rewire to beable to embody these feelings quickly.

Are you comfortable with them, especially the more challenging ones like anger, fear and sadness? Do you tend to suppress them as they arise, rather than allowing them to move through you freely?

Without judgment, I invite you to get curious of your relationship with your emotions!

Before we can create deep intimacy with another person, we need to be able to create it with ourselves – every part of us – even the parts that we may feel uncomfortable with. From a very young age, we are taught “not to cry” or to “calm down” which leads us to suppressing our emotions or detaching from them completely. This in turn leads to numbing behaviors, addictions and a feeling of being out of control. The truth is a powerful emotion only lasts about 90 seconds if you can stay with it and allow it to ripple through your body and energy field. The key is to not let it get stuck. Emotions are energy-in-motion, and we need to let them stay in motion. They become a challenge when they are not felt and get stuck in the body, which ultimately leads to dis-ease.

Your emotions are a beautiful gift, and they have a specific message for you. What if we saw our emotions as messengers? Rather than trying to avoid or suppress them, we could lean into them and surrender to what they were trying to tell us. The way to do this is by welcoming the emotion and being willing to sit with it as it moves through you. Feel any sensations connected to the emotion. Rather than suppressing or trying to calm your anger, get curious and see what it feels like in your body. Where in your body does your anger live? Is it trying to tell you something?

This is a practice that takes some time to develop because we are so used to immediately avoiding the emotions. But as you begin to integrate these beautiful messengers into your life experience you will be calling back lost pieces of yourself. This will bring healing, empowerment, and a renewed sense of wholeness.

MEETING YOUR EMOTIONS WITH Loving Presence:

To do this exercise, you will need 2 pillows. You can set them up so they are facing each other either on the floor or on your bed, wherever you are most comfortable.

1. Sitting on one pillow, facing the other, close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply. Take as much time as you need to settle in, release the day and become very present. This can take 10-20 breaths or more. The important thing is for you to relax your mind and body.
2. Once you are relaxed, scan your body and notice any sensations that are alive in this moment. Do you feel any pain, constriction, resistance, tightness, heat, tingling, numbness? Once you have identified a sensation, notice if there is an emotion connected to it. If there isn’t, you may also wish to go directly to an emotion rather than a sensation. This would include asking yourself “what emotion is most alive within me right now?”
3. When you have identified the emotion you wish to work with, project it out onto the pillow in front of you. If the emotion is anger, see anger sitting on the pillow. If it is sadness, see sadness sitting on the pillow. If it is fear, see fear sitting on the pillow. Allow the emotion to take whatever shape it first appears as. Do not try to change it.
4. Take a few breaths to connect with the emotion by just sitting with it. Notice how you feel when you just sit with it. What is happening in your body? What are your thoughts saying to you?
5. After about 10-20 breaths, ask the emotion if it has a message for you. What is its purpose? What is it trying to tell you? You may get an answer and you may not. Whatever you experience is perfect, do not try to change anything just be willing to connect with this piece of yourself.
6. Take as much time as you need to commune with your emotion. When you feel complete, ask it what it needs from you. Does your anger need you to set a boundary for yourself? Does your sadness need to flow and release with a good cry? Does your fear need to feel supported in some way? How can you support yourself and honor the messages of your emotion? What does it need to be felt and released?
7. When that feels complete, welcome your emotion into your heart. This is a beautiful way to integrate the lost pieces of yourself, all the pieces that you suppress, avoid and that have been discarded. They never go away, they stay lodged in our energy field and begin to manifest as pain and dis-ease. By welcoming the emotion into your heart, you are honoring yourself and your lived experience. You may find it helpful to pick up the pillow in front of you and give it a big hug, you may want to hug yourself, or you may visualize the emotion perhaps transforming into a beautiful white light and moving into your heart.
8. Once you have invited this lost piece of yourself into your heart, see it become one with you. You could see it dissolve, become a shimmering color, transform into love or peace, or you may feel a warmth or tingling. Whatever you experience is perfect, take as much time as you need for the process to feel complete and then take your time coming back into the present moment. You may find it helpful to sit in meditation for a few moments afterward or to journal any insights that you had.

There is nothing as universally grounding as the effect of being placed in front of still, crystal clear, turquoise water. Whether it’s the ocean, the sea, a lake or a river, the calming effect on the mind, body and soul is immediate.

You surrender to the perfect turquoise hues of blue and green of the water and land in the present moment awareness of the beauty before you. The cooling tones of colours have a calming effect on your physiology and the enduring energy of moving water quiets the noise of the world around you.

Water is a dynamic element with the ability to connect you to emotions and feelings that exist within your mind and body:

• To energy and excitement as you watch the waves dance and crash into the shoreline.
• To fear and worry as you watch a stormy sea toss anything in its path and witness the destruction of a hurricane, typhoon, or a tidal wave.
• To joyful abandon as you frolic and play in the sun kissed waters of your favorite beach.
• To peace, presence, and purpose as you sit in stillness and breathe in your intention to flow like the turquoise water.

Turquoise has elemental qualities of water known to instill inner calm and wisdom from its grounding energy. When we start our day feeling grounded and centered, we bring that energy into our interactions creating space for mindful, regulated, and responsive communication.

The Collective

As members of the ‘Soulpreneur Collective’, what we give to the world is so much more than a client experience. Each exchange includes a universal offering of energy that creates ripples of goodwill, creativity and purpose as intention comes before effort and service.

We cannot predict or control the way we are received by others, but we can optimize and support our ability to be present and emotionally regulated in our interactions.

A Mindset of Intentional Awareness nurtures a) self-awareness, b) mindfulness and c) present momentawareness of the situation and the environment we are in. The shift towards awareness places control to ourside of the equation.

A Mindset of Function increases our capacity to connect, interact and communicate with our environment. As members of the ‘Universal Collective’, we have little to no control over the way life happens in the world around us. The soulpreneur who operates from a place of awareness is able to claim the power of the pause and adapt, adjust and accommodate as they move with ease through what comes. The power in this shift to adaptability moves us from being fixed and rigid to being malleable and fluid.A Mindset of Fluidity allows us to fill the space of any container we are placed in and overcome any obstacle or challenge in the scope of our work.

As members of the ‘Human Collective’, we have been thrust into this one beautiful journey from the moment we land in our lives. It is our birthright to live in the abundance that is within us, to tap into the resilient spirit that is innately ours and to choose joy daily.

The power lies in our choice to adapt a Mindset of Flow. We choose hope over fear, light over darkness, contentment over greed, pain over suffering, kindness over malintent, abundance over scarcity and above all love over hate.

A Mindset of Flow increases our ability to wake up each day and step into all the possibilities, choosing to be good with what is as we embrace the flow of life.

The next time you find yourself caught in the frenetic pace of a day gone out of control; the frustration of an interaction, negotiation or conversation flipped on its end or the waves of overwhelm and burnout approaching…pause.

• There is power in the pause.
• There is power in being like water, the perfect, turquoise waters of your soul.
• There is power in being fluid and flowing, taking the shape of every container you are placed in, and every situation put before you.

As you enter the next season, step into any uncertainty with a knowing that you can harness the power of mindfulness and develop the mindset to create sustainable change in how you navigate the journey before you.

When you shift your thinking and develop habits and rituals to support a new mindset you create something that will give you power to connect with purpose to support the people in your life – those you work for and those that may work for you.

The mindset shift within you will have a tangible impact on how you show up in all areas of your life as younurture and cultivate:

1. The Mindset of Function,
2. The Mindset of Fluidity.
3. The Mindset of Flow.

Do all the things, be all the things, trust all the things that will be provided for you.

Ride the waves, follow the ebb and the flow of the tides, and know that you are ready for each season that comes, moving into each opportunity like the cool, calm turquoise waters of your soul.

“Ride the waves, follow the ebb and the flow of the tides, and know that you are ready for each season that comes, moving into each opportunity like the cool, calm turquoise waters of your soul.”

If you haven’t made the connection to power of turquoise waters and there’s no body of water around you, use technology to bring water to you.

Find a seascape or an ocean where you see the beautiful colours melding together and where you can hear thewaves crashing against the shore.
Pause.

Let yourself be transported to the present moment awareness of the beauty before you. Soon you will feel the calming energy quiet your mind.

Take a long slow inhale and a long slow exhale. Keep breathing deeply and intentionally. Soon you will feel the peaceful energy relax your body.

Soon you will start to feel the connection to the turquoise waters of your soul.

Money is a tricky topic when it comes to the psychology of people who have the colour turquoise for energy. Do you find that you either pile your money up, like a dam or let it all slip through the cracks so there is nothing left to pile up? If you find yourself in one of these situations, there is a solution. This turquoise group of highly innovative visionaries, seek success from unconfined boundaries.

Does that mean saving money is confining and restrictive, bringing in the feeling of bondage?

Quite the contrary! A door opens to a world of freedom.

And for those who are “chronic savers” (could there be such a thing?) would you believe that giving money away can bring more money back to you? The laws of reciprocity, money in flow, God loves a cheerful giver, sound familiar? Let us see…

Let’s look at the “chronic saver” and how I recovered from this.

I find more often than not, the ladies are the “nest eggers” and we will pass opportunities up because we do not want to depart with our money, our next egg, our cocoon money. When we see it in the bank, we KNOW it’s there. We understand this and trust this. Moving the funds out to an investment account can be a high jump hurdle for us. I know because I have done this.

Step 1 in saving IS to create a savings bucket using a bank account. But we need more than one bucket. We divide our savings into:

• Short term savings (for emergencies and repairs)
• Medium term savings (vacations, dream bucket)
• Long term savings (we do not touch this bucket until retirement.) It’s never too soon to begin this bucket of savings. Small amounts grow to huge amounts over the decades.

The “chronic saver” can organize their savings buckets like this and invest accordingly so that each bucket makes money, spilling out profits to spend!

It’s a shift in thinking and really worth a try. I’ve done it myself and helped others to do it. Once the buckets are set up, more money flows in. It’s an energetic phenomenon. You want more money? Try this.

Step 2 Another important discussion for the big saver is reciprocity. Adding a balance into this money mix will really help with the flow of money in, while we flow some out and this is called “philanthropy.” When we give, we actually receive. And again, this can be outside the comfort zone of a saver. Money has to flow within balance. When we give, it creates a positive energy: it helps another mission, and it gives our heart a breeze of freedom and reduces our fear. When we make decisions from fear, we play small, and we attract small results. When we make decisions from strength, we attract strong results.

I think it’s important to repeat this point: when we save our money out of:

• a fear that our money will run out,
• a fear of the unknown,
• a fear of losing control.

We are playing small and attracting small results.

Want to go bigger?

• Set up 3-5 savings buckets
• Pick a charity and start giving
• Become an investor

And watch you GO!

When we are enriched and fulfilled, more happiness comes to us and reciprocity becomes a magical path for us.

Now on the flip side, there are those of us where money slips through our hands like water. We can’t hold onto anything. We still may be living a great mission, but we haven’t built a bomb shelter yet. From my own experience, once I flipped out of this “saving and playing small” mode, I entered into an entirely new world of spending while saving. Spending was really out of my comfort zone. I would watch in awe of how others could spend big. I soon came to realize that big spenders can be big investors and big investments pay out big returns, allowing the big spender to have more to spend.

How do we do this?

• Spend your money on assets that appreciate
• Invest your money into ideas that bring returns

Only buy appreciating assets!

It’s a mind shift. Invest until you make yourself broke. Want to continue seeing the money flow though your hands? Flow it into solid foundation items.

Step 1 Organize a new way of using your money. Think big by allocating your funds in a smart way. Two simple steps to start with:

• Short term bucket (money for safety or fun)
• Medium term bucket (asset acquisition bucket- the generator bucket) This funds your big ideas and big assets.
• Long term bucket (the hands-off bucket for backfilling investment returns in retirement)

I believe that big spenders can be big investors. It’s all about finding the path, and then building upon it.

Step 2. Philanthropy is a good balance for a spender. It is money well given in the right energy – the energy of reciprocity. The world of giving opens up incredible doors of opportunity.

Balance is the solution for the Turquoise folks. It is important not to let the pendulum swing too far on either side. The turquoise gang do not like to be out of balance as it ruins their equilibrium making the end result – playing too small or playing too big. Both can be a losing game. We hope you win!